Blow out line to slide?

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andy_andy

andy_andy

0
May 16, 2016
16
North Alabama
Hi everyone,

I'm relatively new here, so please forgive if this is basic information.

I'm a new pool owner and live in North Alabama. I don't plan to close my pool, but I am concerned about the water line to my pool slide since it does get below 32 here. So, I'd like to blow it out. However, I've never done it before and am not sure exactly how to do it. (maybe I'm being a cheapskate and not wanting to call someone out).
Water flowing to the pool goes through a valve (1 side outputs to jets, and 1 side outputs to the slide).
I'm not really sure I can open any of that up to blow it out. Maybe I can, but just don't know how.

I'm thinking that I could turn off my pump, change that valve's position to close the water supply side (right out of my filter), effectively connecting the jets and the slide supply. Then blow air from either 1 of the jets or from the slide inlet where the water flows down my slide (I'll need to remove a little cover that's over this).

What do you guys think? I can take some pictures if it helps you visualize my scenario.

Thanks,
Andy
 
Welcome to TFP! :wave:

If you can move your filter's valve to the Closed position. That would be viable. Then blow air into the slide out through the returns or vis-a-versa.

If you have any removable union on your return side after the pump, you could close your filter, then blow air in that union toward the slide/return valve. Then close the slide side of the valve after all the water was pushed through.
 
If you leave the valve to the slide open and turn off the pump, the water in the slide pipe should drain back down to the pool water level. Then turn the valve back to have the slide off.

What size is the pipe?

I highly doubt you would have a problem with it even full of water unless you got a pretty significantly long freeze spell. (not sure what your typical winter is like).
 
Andy:

Unless I missed something, you do not mention the other parts of the pool. You have an IG pool, so I am assuming you have at least 1 skimmer, a main drain and at least 2 returns (if not more) and the slide. Have you closed everything else but the slide? If so, blow air towards the slide the same way. Unless somehow, the slide is plumbed differently, but you do mention a valve. Please advise!
 
thanks everyone for helping me figure this out. I'm attaching the relevant pictures.
Also I've updated my signature to give more details about my pool that I hadn't mentioned yet (2 skimmers, 6 jets, 2 drains).
No, I haven't closed any of it yet. Was wondering if I really needed to do it, as I live in Northern Alabama where it does freeze but not for very long?? I know there's risk of a bigger failure, vs the cost / time of closing.

And on a side note, I called a pool company who said it would cost $95 to come close it for me. then at least I could watch and learn how to do it.
I originally didn't want to close it, and just drain the line to the slide, but now I'm thinking about closing it entirely.

<also I don't know why my pictures are not oriented correctly, sorry about that>
pool3.jpgpool1.jpgpool2.jpg
 
Do you have an air compressor and/or powerful shop vac? You also can disconnect at the cell and blow air towards the skimmers and main drain. The skimmers can be vacuumed out and air can be pushed to remove most of the water. The water in the returns can be removed and plugged and the main drain requires an "air lock". Or you can just turn on the pump when temperatures go below freezing. It takes a few long cold days before ice starts freezing. If you spent $95 for 2 seasons, this would pay for the air compressor and fittings needed to close the pool.
 
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